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Demography and reproductive biology of Melinna palmata (Ampharetidae: Polychaeta) in Inner Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland

Demography and reproductive biology of Melinna palmata (Ampharetidae: Polychaeta) in Inner Galway... 227 109 109 3 3 A. J. Grehan Zoology Department University College Galway Ireland Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Laboratoire Arago Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), C.N.R.S. F-66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer France Abstract A high-density population of the polychaete Melinna palmata Grube was the focus of a two-year study at a shallow-water location in Inner Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. Mean densities were highest in the second year of the study following successful recruitment. Size-frequency analysis of population structure (April 1983 to March 1985) revealed the presence of four cohorts, with the 1983 settlement becoming the dominant modal class. Size comparison of this cohort with the 1982 settlement showed that growth rates were lower and mortality higher in the 1983 settlement, which may be related to density dependent intra-specific competition. M. palmata at this location live for 2 to 2.5 yr with a small number surviving to 3 yr of age. M. palmata in Galway Bay is dioecious and has an even sex ratio. Reproductively mature worms were approximately 2 yr old when they first spawned. Spawning took place between May and July, when mature oocytes had a modal size of ca. 290 µ m. Proliferation of previtellogenic oocytes (ca. 10 µ m) from the gonads occurred following spawning. Growth over the winter was slow and was followed by a period of rapid growth between March and May, coincident with rising water temperatures. The presence of mature unspawned oocytes, which were resorbed after commencement of new proliferation, was taken as evidence of the species propensity for polytely. However, post-spawning mortality appeared to be high, so that only a small number of individuals survived to spawn the following year. The highest abundance of mature males was encountered between May and August, but lower levels of mature stages were present throughout the year. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Marine Biology Springer Journals

Demography and reproductive biology of Melinna palmata (Ampharetidae: Polychaeta) in Inner Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland

Grehan, A.
Marine Biology , Volume 109 (3) – Oct 1, 1991
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References (12)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 by Springer-Verlag
Subject
Life Sciences; Biomedicine general; Oceanography; Ecology; Microbiology; Zoology
ISSN
0025-3162
eISSN
1432-1793
DOI
10.1007/BF01313511
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

227 109 109 3 3 A. J. Grehan Zoology Department University College Galway Ireland Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Laboratoire Arago Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), C.N.R.S. F-66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer France Abstract A high-density population of the polychaete Melinna palmata Grube was the focus of a two-year study at a shallow-water location in Inner Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. Mean densities were highest in the second year of the study following successful recruitment. Size-frequency analysis of population structure (April 1983 to March 1985) revealed the presence of four cohorts, with the 1983 settlement becoming the dominant modal class. Size comparison of this cohort with the 1982 settlement showed that growth rates were lower and mortality higher in the 1983 settlement, which may be related to density dependent intra-specific competition. M. palmata at this location live for 2 to 2.5 yr with a small number surviving to 3 yr of age. M. palmata in Galway Bay is dioecious and has an even sex ratio. Reproductively mature worms were approximately 2 yr old when they first spawned. Spawning took place between May and July, when mature oocytes had a modal size of ca. 290 µ m. Proliferation of previtellogenic oocytes (ca. 10 µ m) from the gonads occurred following spawning. Growth over the winter was slow and was followed by a period of rapid growth between March and May, coincident with rising water temperatures. The presence of mature unspawned oocytes, which were resorbed after commencement of new proliferation, was taken as evidence of the species propensity for polytely. However, post-spawning mortality appeared to be high, so that only a small number of individuals survived to spawn the following year. The highest abundance of mature males was encountered between May and August, but lower levels of mature stages were present throughout the year.

Journal

Marine Biology – Springer Journals

Published: Oct 1, 1991

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